Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 358 A dead horse becomes a live doctor
The next day.

The Imperial Palace, inside the Qianqing Palace.

Li Zisheng arrived early, and this time he was not accompanied by Zhang Luan.

The purpose of his coming here was to explain in detail to Zhu Jianshen what Zhang Luan had told him yesterday about introducing new medicine, and to seek Zhu Jianshen's opinion to see if the emperor was willing to take the new medicine.

"Mr. Li, since Mr. Zhang has medicine to offer, why doesn't he show the prescription to the Imperial Hospital first and then offer it after they have made a judgment?"

Zhu Jianshen frowned and said, "It's not that I don't trust him, but everything must be done according to the rules. I'm not afraid that he has any bad intentions. After all... ahem, there are not many people willing to take responsibility at this moment."

Li Zisheng sighed and said, "That's right, Your Majesty. It is said that the medicine used by Zhang Taichang has a very complicated production process and is not made with ordinary medicinal materials. If the prescription is submitted to the Imperial Hospital, the people in the Imperial Hospital will definitely not accept this new medicine.

"This is what I thought. I have found patients in the city with similar symptoms to your majesty. I will ask them to give the medicine to those people first. If there are no toxic side effects and their condition shows signs of improvement, I will give it to your majesty."

Wei Tai asked, "Will this work?"

Li Zisheng said helplessly: "This is the only way for now, unless Your Majesty..."

Zhu Jianshen sighed, "Unless I am willing to take it directly, right?"

"Yes."

Li Zisheng nodded and said, "As for the pharmaceutical production, I will personally supervise it and ensure that all the materials he uses come from formal channels. After presenting it to the palace, I will find someone to test the medicine to ensure that there are no major side effects."

Zhu Jianshen shook his head and smiled bitterly, then asked, "Then Li Qing, do you think that Zhang Qing's family intends to harm me?"

"Of course not."

Li Zisheng patted his chest and said, "I am willing to vouch for him, but in many things, we have to resist rumors. If the medicine is not effective, or... there are any side effects, the responsibility..."

Zhu Jianshen asked again: "Then Li Qing, have you asked the people in the Imperial Hospital if they have any good prescriptions or medicines?"

Li Zisheng said helplessly: "Of course not."

"What are you waiting for?"

Zhu Jianshen said, "If Mr. Zhang has such good medicine, just bring it to me. If he wants to harm me, he can just ignore me. Anyway, I won't be able to survive this disease for long."

Wei Tai hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please don't say that. You are in good health and will live for thousands of years."

"Alas! I also want to live longer, but how many kings have lived to a ripe old age? My body... Alas!"

Zhu Jianshen sighed and said, "Now that I have a chance to save the situation, how can I not try? I have even used Deng Changen's elixir, so why would I be afraid to try a new medicine?"

When Li Zisheng heard this, his face became even more embarrassed.

Zhu Jianshen comforted Li Zisheng and said with a smile: "Li Qing, are you worried that Zhang Qing's family will follow in Deng Changen's footsteps?
"In fact, I didn't want to kill Deng Chang'en. I just wanted to give him a small punishment. He was probably loyal when he offered the elixir, but then he insisted on his own opinion and described to me how practicing Taoism could ward off illness. However, the more he practiced, the more uncomfortable I felt. In the end, his body was almost unable to support him. I felt that he was seeking personal gain."

Li Zisheng thought to himself, I wish you would kill Deng Changen.

Why give a severe punishment for a minor one?

How about we give him a big punishment?

Zhu Jianshen sighed, "Go back and ask Zhang Qing's family to prepare the medicine and send it to the palace as soon as possible. My body is...ah!"

As he spoke, Zhu Jianshen stretched out his right hand and covered his left upper abdomen, as if he was in severe pain.

Li Zisheng said worriedly: "It seems that we should hurry up."

Because of the emperor's illness, Li Zisheng, who studied medical books hard, became a half-liver disease expert. He knew that liver disease generally does not cause any feeling because the liver itself does not have any nerves. If pain occurs in the liver area, it means that the disease has indeed developed to an extremely serious level.

"I wonder when the medicine can be prepared?"

Zhu Jianshen asked expectantly.

"This……"

Li Zisheng said, "In fact, Zhang Taichang has been preparing for it a few days ago, saying that it will take two or three days. Shouldn't I come to ask your Majesty for instructions first?"

Zhu Jianshen nodded and said, "He really has a lot of intentions."

As they were talking, a eunuch came in and said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is outside and wants to see you."

"Oh, right, today is the day when the Crown Prince pays respects to us." Zhu Jianshen suddenly realized, "I forgot to ask someone to inform him when I returned to the palace. Is there anything going on in the court recently?"

Wei Tai, who was standing by, was very sensible now. Even if there was something wrong, he couldn't let the emperor worry about it. He quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, there is nothing going on in the court."

……

……

Cabinet value.

Wan'an and Liu Ji have been quite anxious these past two days.

The main reason was that after a long time of preparation, the prince was successfully lured into a ditch, and when they were preparing to close the net, they found that everything was in vain. Now the focus of the court was no longer on the Tongzhou granary.

"Master Wan, you have to make a decision. I have already told Sun Ren that he is still hiding in his own house. I don't know whether he deserves to die or not."

The most important part of this plan was to have Sun Ren, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, "forced to death" by the Crown Prince.

After all, it is about human life.

Originally, Sun Ren was afraid that if the case was exposed, it would cause too much harm.

In order to preserve the interests of his family, he must have known that he had to sacrifice himself. Besides, he was an old man and had been an official for decades. He understood everything, so life or death was not a big deal.

But now...

Knowing that the focus of the court is not here, if you want me to die, I will die?

Why?

Wan An said: "Let the people from the Censorate come to investigate and say that it was the Crown Prince's order. Let the man surnamed Sun feel the pressure, and maybe he will die calmly."

"It's not easy."

Liu Ji said in embarrassment, "I went to his house yesterday, but he didn't even let me in. The doorman told me that the owner of the house was recovering from illness and refused to see guests. It's obvious that he doesn't want to die. If it doesn't work, then..." Wan An frowned and said, "Why, are you planning to find someone to kill him?"

Liu Ji's expression was somewhat evasive, but he stopped complaining.

Wan An said: "I just heard the news that His Majesty is seriously ill. I think it's the right time for His Majesty to consider the successor... As long as you and I stand together, when His Majesty asks about the crown prince issue, as long as we stir up trouble a little, the prince will be in a very unfavorable situation."

Liu Ji sighed, "But now we lack a clue. There is no movement at Deng Changen's house, and we don't even know if he has returned from the Taoist temple."

"Then go and see for yourself."

Wan An said coldly, "The instigator is Deng Chang'en. In fact, it is most appropriate for him to bring it up. Otherwise, if we rely on you and me alone... I'm afraid His Majesty will not be in the mood to see us!"

……

……

Deng Chang'en was imprisoned, which was considered a secret within a certain range.

The emperor did not say it explicitly because Zhu Jianshen did not intend to kill Deng Changen directly. This was more like a punishment for Deng Changen after the emperor was heartbroken.

After all, the emperor is very afraid of death now and dare not punish those who treat him casually... Once they become disappointed, no one will treat him.

Even if the emperor has come to his senses now, Deng Chang'en is simply a charlatan and is not worthy of his trust.

But in terms of motives, in the emperor's view, at least they were good. Deng Changen's series of actions should have come from his concern and love for him, but he did not see that this person was only interested in fame and fortune and dared to do anything crazy.

Of course, in comparison, Li Zisheng was more enthusiastic about curing the emperor than Deng Changen. From then on, he even ignored the affairs of the court and pestered Zhang Luan, wanting to see Zhang Luan making medicine with his own eyes.

"Minister Li, it's not that I don't want to take you there, it's just that... some things are really... not worthy of being accepted in such a high-profile forum." Zhang Luan said helplessly.

At this time, the two were at Zhang Luan's mansion.

Li Zisheng had not left since he arrived at Zhang's house in the morning until sunset in the afternoon. During this period, he repeatedly begged Zhang Luan to take him to see the medicine-making process, and said that he had promised the emperor to supervise it personally.

Li Zisheng asked in confusion: "Why don't you tell me why it is so unworthy of being accepted in a formal place? Did you use something unclean? Or are you afraid of being seen when you mixed the medicine? I rushed you, but it became my fault?"

Zhang Luan smiled bitterly, gritted his teeth, and said with his neck stiff, "Let's put it this way, the raw material of this medicine is the internal organs of livestock."

"So...so what?"

Li Zisheng finally understood why Zhang Luan had been wasting time with him. He really used unusual medicinal materials. However, he was stubborn and said, "Not to mention animal organs, even if it is animal... excrement, as long as it can cure the disease, what does it matter?"

"hehe."

Zhang Luan laughed disdainfully, "Then I say, we use animal kidneys, placentas, and even cow placenta. What do you think?"

Li Zisheng's face changed immediately: "Ah... Laizhan, you... you better not do anything rash... after all, this is medicine for His Majesty... it can't be too bizarre..."

Zhang Luan said angrily, "Medicine is medicine, how can it be called chaos? What is bizarre? As long as it can cure the disease, shouldn't we try everything?"

"I……"

Li Zisheng finally compromised and raised his hands and said, "It seems that some things really can't be brought to the table... Let me ask you, is this thing really okay?"

"What is the problem? What kind of problem is it?" Zhang Luan asked, "Does Minister Li think that these things are poisonous?"

"That doesn't seem to be the case."

Li Zisheng said helplessly, "You look so calm and unhurried, when can you prepare the medicine?"

"I'll do it as soon as possible."

Zhang Luan said, "I've asked my son to do it."

"Is it Heling or Yanling?"

Li Zisheng asked.

"It is the little boy Yanling."

Zhang Luan replied.

Li Zisheng was shocked and said, "You actually gave such an important matter to Yanling? Considering his age... is it okay?"

Zhang Luan said, "Nothing is impossible without him... Minister Li, don't worry, it will probably only take a day or two. I know your majesty's condition is urgent and can't be delayed, but as long as your majesty takes my medicine on time, it will generally... work wonders within two or three days, and you may be able to get up and walk around."

"Is it so magical?"

Li Zisheng was stunned for a moment, then sighed: "Because of your majesty's illness, I have been unable to sleep or eat, and now it is even more..."

Just as he was about to start complaining, he suddenly remembered that the two of them were drinking and chatting happily in his house yesterday, and even singing and dancing until midnight.

Zhang Luan, however, did not seem to have considered this, and his tone of complaint was no different from Li Zisheng's: "I have also worked hard for this, Minister Li, please be patient. I will send the medicine to you as soon as it is prepared, even if it is in the middle of the night... I will personally deliver the medicine to your door."

"it is good."

Li Zisheng stood up and was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something and reached out to take Zhang Luan's arm. "Come on, come on, let's go see your new courtyard... This is a gift for you... It's not far from the South Palace Gate."

"This... this is not good, right?"

Zhang Luan was somewhat resistant at first, but when he heard that there was a new house available, his expression instantly turned from gloomy to bright.

Li Zisheng said, "Why are you being so polite to me? It's as if the house you live in now was not given to you by me... The reason why I stayed at your house today is that it's too far to go back and forth from my house, so I just waited at your house... It will be much more convenient for me to visit you after you move to a new place."

Zhang Luan's eyes rolled around and he said with a smile, "Don't rush to move. I can go there alone... We need to make some arrangements over there first."

Li Zisheng was startled for a moment, then nodded: "That makes sense. You have been diagnosing and treating His Majesty these days, so you really don't need to bother your family. How about this, I will take care of things over there for you, and you just wait there. I will come to you directly if I have something to do, and the rest of the time... you can do whatever you want."

"Very good, very good."

Zhang Luan had a smile on his face. He suddenly had an extra house out of nowhere. Wasn't that wonderful?
Besides, Li Zisheng, his ally, is very capable. He might find him a few beautiful women. In the evening, he can have a drink with them, listen to some music, and hug them... That would be a perfect place where he would never want to leave.

As for the wives and concubines at home, they can only be left there to gather dust.

(End of this chapter)